Tiny Plastics Detected in 9 of 10 Prostate Tumors, NYU Study Finds
A pilot NYU Langone Health study found microplastic particles in 9 of 10 prostate tumor samples, with cancerous tissue averaging about 40 micrograms per gram versus 16 in healthy tissue (roughly 2.5x higher). The team took rigorous contamination precautions, including using nonplastic tools, and analyzed 12 common plastic molecules. While findings raise the possibility that microplastics could influence cancer risk via inflammation, researchers caution that the small sample size requires larger studies to confirm any causal role; results will be presented at the ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.
